ArticleWorld journal of surgical oncology2026
The effect of interleukin-21 on HBV-related hepatocellular carcinoma, from the perspective of genetics.
Article in World journal of surgical oncology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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Abstract
backgroundHepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) represents a major global health burden, with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection being its predominant cause. However, only a fraction of chronic HBV carriers progress to HCC, suggesting a critical role for host genetic susceptibility. Interleukin-21 (IL-21) is a key immunomodulatory cytokine implicated in anti-tumor immunity, yet the association between IL-21 gene polymorphisms and HBV-related HCC risk remains unexplored. This study aimed to investigate the potential link between specific IL-21 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and susceptibility to HBV-related HCC in a Chinese population.
methodsA hospital-based case-control study was conducted involving 320 patients with HBV-related HCC and 560 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Three IL-21 SNPs (rs2221903, rs907715, and rs12508721) were genotyped using the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method.
resultsSignificant associations with HBV-related HCC susceptibility were identified for rs12508721 and rs2221903 (P < 0.05), while no significant association was found for rs907715. The specific risk or protective genotypes and their corresponding ORs are detailed in the full text.
conclusionThis study provides preliminary evidence that genetic polymorphisms in the IL-21 gene (rs12508721 and rs2221903) may be associated with susceptibility to HBV-related HCC. These findings suggest a potential role for host genetic variation in IL-21 in influencing outcomes following chronic HBV infection, although functional validation and replication in larger, independent cohorts are required to confirm these observations.
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